And hartford



(No model.)-

C. E. HADLEY. Mun GUARD FOR GYOLES.

No. 500,889. Patented July 4, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HADLEY, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OVERMAN WHEEL COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS,

AND HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MUD-GUARD FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,889, dated July 4, 1893.

Application filed December 19, 1892- Serial No. 4 5,66 (No m del) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. HADLEY, of Chicopee, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new Improvements in Mud-Guards for Cycles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a partial view in side elevation of a pneumatic safety bicycle showing the application of mud-guards constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached perspective view of one form which a mud-guard constructed to receive the mud thrown by the front wheel of a safety bicycle may assume; Fig. 3, a similar view of one form which my improved mud-guard may take in its application to receive the mud thrown by the rear wheel of such a machine; Fig. 4, a broken perspective View of the hooks of the attaching device at the outer end of the guard for the rear wheel.

My invention relates to an improvement in mud-guards for cycles, the object being to produce an article of extreme lightness and simplicity, convenient of application to and removal from the machine, holding itself in place either in whole or in part by its own reaction when stretched, and shedding of itself the dirt thrown upon it.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a mud-guard, composed of an elastic band or strip, provided at its ends with attaching devices, and adapted in length to be placed under tension when applied for use, whereby the device is held in place wholly or in part by its own tension, which also makes it self-shedding of the dirt thrown uponit.

Myinvention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a strip or band A, of rubber-sheeting, or of rubber combined with an elastic or stretchable fabric, the requirement being that the strip or band shall have spring tension when stretched. To the ends of such a band I se cure attaching devices, which may be varied according to the place where the guard is to be used, and to the form of the machine with which it is to be used. The guard shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings is provided at one end with an attaching device made of a single piece of wire,bent to form a long narrow loop B, a little longer than the width of the strip which is passed through it, and a laterally disposed hook B, extending outward from the center of the outer member of said the loop. By preference, the said hook is provided with a cover I), of rubber tubing, or other material which will prevent it from chafing or scratching the frame of the machine to which it is applied. The opposite end of the band is provided with an attaching device made from a single piece of wire, bent to form along narrow loop C, alittle longer than the strip is wide, and two corresponding vertically arranged hooks C C, opening downward, and having long shanks, their outer ends being provided with covers 0, of rubber tubes or other material. The outer member of the loop C,.is not in this case continuous, but is broken,as it were, by an opening represented by the separation of the hooks. The mud-guard thus constructed, is adapted to be extended between the steering-head tube D, and the crank-shaft hanger E, of a safety-bicycle, the hook B, being applied to the tube, While'the hooks C' C are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the said hanger. The band or strip A, is made so short that it will not permit the said hooks to be applied to the said tube and hanger Without being stretched sufiiciently to place it under enough tension to hold itself in place by its own reaction. It is clear that it can be very easily applied however, by first attaching one end to the frame of the machine, and then stretching it until its other end can be attached thereto. On the other hand, it is removed with equal facility, for by stretching it until one end can be detached, the other end may be easily disengaged. When in use, the strip being under tension, will shed of itself and on that account, a large portion of the dirt cast upon it, so that the guard is really self-cleaning.

The guard for the rear wheel shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, consists of a strip or band.

of rubber-sheeting, or elastic rubber coated fabric, provided at one end with a wire attaching device comprising a long narrow open loop G, and two corresponding vertically disposed hooks G G, each having a coveringg, of rubber tubing, or some equivalent thereof. These hooks enable the forward end of the strip to be connected with the frame of the machine at or near the crotch of the upper rear fork I-I,thereof. From this point of connection the strip is extended rearward in a substantially horizontal plane, and supported at its outer end by an attaching device, made, as

shown, from a single piece of wire, and comprising a cross-bar I, correspondingin length tothewidthofthestrip,twolongcorresponding legs I I, and two corresponding hooks 2' 2', formed at the outer ends of the said legs, and having coverings 4 2" of rubber or equivalent material, the said hooks adapting the legs to be engaged with the respective mem bers of the fork H, near the lower ends thereof. One of these hooks is shown on a larger scale in Fig. 4 of the drawings, where it is shown to consist of two oppositely arranged loops 1? 2' having their openings in substantial alignment, and joined by a straight portion it I do not, however, limit myself to any particular way of forming the hooks of any of the attaching devices with which the strips or bands are provided, as the form of j the said hook will depend upon the shape of the frame where the attachment is made.

The application of the rear wheel-guard above described, is well shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. This guard is held in place by the combined elasticity of its strip or band F, and that of the legs I I which are placed under some spring tension when applied. When in use, the band or strip F, being under tension will of itself shed dirt or whatever else is thrown against it, and thus keep comparatively cleaned.

Both guards are light and simple of construction, and can be readily applied and detached, and enable the mud-guards of a ma-' chine to be dispensed with except when the condition of the roads demands their use.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware, however, that a flexible spring controlled mud-guard in the form of a strip wound upon a roller, and coiled or uncoiled, as a curtain is, is old.

I am also aware that flexible, but non-elastic strips orbands have been employed as mudguards, and placed under the tension required to keep them in place by the character of their attaching devices.

I do not, therefore, broadly claim a mudguard composed of a flexible strip or band provided with attaching devices at its ends,but-

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mud-guard for cycles, composed of an elastic band or strip, provided at its endswith attaching devices, and adapted in length to be placed under tension when applied, substantially as set forth, whereby the device is held in place wholly or in part by its own tension, which also makes it self-shedding of the dirt thrown upon it, substantially as described.

2. A mud-guard for cycles, composed of an elastic band or strip provided at its ends with attaching devices made of wire, and provided with coverings of rubber or equivalent material, and adapted in length to be placed under tension when applied, substantially as set forth, whereby the device is held in place wholly or in part by its own tension, which also makes it self-shedding of the dirt thrown upon it.

3. A mud-guard for cycles, consisting of a band or strip of elastic material, provided at its ends with attaching devices, one of which is made of wire, and comprises a cross-bar for the attachment of one end of the strip, two long corresponding legs, and hooks formed at the outer end of the said legs to couple the same to the vehicle-frame, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. HADLEY.

lVitnesses:

EUGENE F. RUssELL, J. F. BEMIER. 

